Derek Sanderson has sipped from the Stanley Cup and slept on a park bench.

He made and lost millions of dollars and almost drank himself to death.

Now, 35 years after playing his last game in the National Hockey League, Sanderson is telling his story in the book, ‘Crossing the Line: The Outrageous Story of a Hockey Original’.

The only question is why did it take so long?

“I wasn’t going to (write) one,” said Sanderson, a Niagara Falls native who will sign copies of his book Saturday at Coles bookstore at Niagara Square beginning at noon. “It was a financial situation that forced me to because my kids are in college. When you pay 58 (thousand) a semester, no thanks. That’s what it costs and I dont want them leaving college with the burden of financial loans on their head.”

The colourful Sanderson, who won two Cups with Boston, knows first-hand the effects financial hardships can have. The 66-year-old made a number of bad investments toward the end of his career in the 1970s that left him broke and an alcoholic.

It’s one of the book’s main subjects.

“It’s about redemption and getting sober,” Sanderson said. “What got me sober was the strength of family and friends and people who cared about me. I didn’t stay in one place long enough so ... Bobby Orr included, helped me a good many a times. You try to reason, ‘How could I hurt these people?’ You still have to get sober for yourself. Once I did they were all there. Everything they promised they would do, they did.”

Sanderson went to Alcoholics Anonymous and has been sober for 32 years. He credits the organization for helping to turn his life around.

“One of the first things I did was make a wallet,” Sanderson said. “It was amazing I completed something. It was the first time I did.”

Since sobriety, Sanderson first worked in broadcasting and now works with Bay State Wealth Management in Boston helping athletes save their money.

Writing the book with co-author Kevin Shea resulted in a 300,000-word manuscript that had to be pared down 90,000 words, Sanderson said.

“There was no cohesion (with stories), and that’s where Kevin helped.”

A second book is in the works, Sanderson said, which he hopes will prevent others from repeating his mistakes.

“I can’t put myself out as a role model,” he said. “I’m sure I came back from the depths, but is that a role model? I want to be somebody for somebody, and a light at the end of the tunnel and that’s not necessarily a train.”

cory.smith@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: CoryatNFR

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Derek Sanderson book signing

When: Saturday at noon

Where: Coles bookstore at Niagara Square (7555 Montrose Road)

Details: There will be a question-and-answer period before Sanderson signs copies of his book

Poll

WIll you read former NHLer and Niagara Falls native Derek Sanderson's book?